The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-28
LAURENS AND LAW.
LAURESS COUNTY DISCLAIMS
SYMPATHY WITH SHEAHAN.

4 Mass Meeting Held In the Courthouse
Denies that the People Of the County
Believe that Bishop was Killed
in Self-Defence.
Ne,rs and Courier.
LACRESs, July 25.-The following
card has been generally circulated here
for several days past:
PUBLIC MEETING.
a meeting of the people Of the county
OF Laurcns will be held in the Court
house on Monday next, the 25th instant.
The object of said meeting will be to
contradict i telegram in the NeuS aud
! Courier stating that the people of this |,
county justify the homicide of R. L. |
Bishop.
R. W. Allison, W. E. Crisp,
James Wham, A. c. Owings,
J. L. NJ. Irby, w. B. Stoddard,
J. D. N. Shaw, A. S. Owings,
J. H. Shell, F. r. Owlngs.
In accordance with the above an
nouncement public meeting was neld
in the Courthouse to-day at II m. On
motion coroner J. J. Boozer was re-
uuested to act as chairman and Dr.. J. S.
Wolff as secretary. Upon taking the
chair DR.. Boozer thanked the people tor
the honor OF presiding over this, one OF
the most important meetings ever held
in Laurens County, concluding his iu-
PRODUCTION by reading the call for the
meeting. DR.. Young read the follow
fing paper from Clinton:
1--WE, the undersigned, citizens Of
Laurens County, S. c., do hereby enter
our solemn protest against the impress
sion made in the Necs and Courier that
we justify the murder Of Rufus L.
Bishop"
This was signed by twenty-five prom
, inent Clinton men, and on the back OF
the paper was endorsed as follows:
1--WE endorse any resolutions con-
demuing the action OF the jury which
sat upon this case, and also resolutions
for getting rid of John D. Sheahan."
This paper was read amid lusty shouts
and cries Of 'Hang himn' The follow
= ing committee was appointed to draw
suitable resolutions expressing the sense
of this meeting: j. r. Switzer, j. F.
Ramage, D. C. Smith, J. H. Shell and
n J. II. Owiugs. After the committee had
a been out four minutes the following res
olutions were reported:
5 ''Whereas on the 4th day OF July, 1887,
,. Ruins L. Bishop, upon the streets un-
a armed and unawares, was slain by John
0 D. Sheahan while running and appealing
= for mercy, and whereas, in few min
S utes after the said homicide Jos. Il. John.
son, paid correspondent of the News
J., and Courier, and the attorney for john
t D. Sheahan, without undertaking te
e find out the opinion of the people Of
it Laurens, but, as we believe, to forestal
d and operate upon public opinion and tc
l. muzzle the public press of the State, die
telegraph to the Neacs and Courier the
g following words, to wit:
i, 1.-The defence claims it was done ii
Ie self-defence, and so says public sent!
it ment," and whereas, the said John D
Sheahan has been tried and acquitted
l. by jury of this county; now, therefore
be it resolved by the people of Laurens
in mass meeting assembled:
First. That the said telegram was
| malicious libel and SANDER upon til
rs people of Laurens County.
le ''Second. Be it further resolved, Tha
It. while we do not wish to impeach tn
t. motives of the jury impanelled in sal
ps case, present. TfaSs too = stEonqSShl qSh
r wait for the clerk. He came at L.. a
ag Then the jury filed in.
tn The usual solemn inquiry WAS mad
%. by the clerk. He received the verdie
IN and read it. "Not guilty." Silence
m broken by furious rapping. ''Brin
a that party here" said Judge Pressle
ne sternly. 1T was the prisoner, you
Honor" explained tipstaff. 'sOh {:
C. said the Judge. Sheahan was so ag
IN tated by his acquittal that his knuckie
I'd or feet ratified against the dock. MI
is johnson presented an order for Shea
ID hams release, which was signed.
ID Court has adjourned. N.G.G.
W A CHARGE OF BRIBERY.
m ,a Special to tile Neus and Courier.
10 COLUMBIA, July PA nlistrial in TIN
r. Sheahan case was expected in Lauren
d because several members of the jur,
were believed to favor the prisoner. Th,
ID State, having only two challenges, wa
able merely to retire two OF the mos
., obnoxious candidates for the panel. The
IS verdict, however, was not a surprise
v The representatives of the State during
d the.progreSS Of the trial had information
J. that several of the jurors had beer
e 6ribed to acquit Sheahan. They en-.
e dsavored to get this put in the form O:
It afhdavlts for use in Court, but could moi
10 induce their informants to take thi:
u step and nothing was done. The opin.
a ion gains ground that it will be impossi
e Bile to convict a white man of murder
a until the law is so changed as to allow
e the State to challenge large number OF
o jurors.
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